In Britain, incidence rates of oral
cancers, such as those of the throat, lip, tongue and mouth, have increased by more than 25% amongst
people in their 40s in only the last decade, a result, say experts, of heavier
alcohol consumption.

Two of the primary causes of oral
cancers are alcohol consumption and smoking. Smoking, the larger risk factor, typically
causes oral cancers only after about 30 years of use, leading experts to
speculate that sharply increasing drinking rates across the country over the
last decades are responsible for the upsurge in cancers amongst the young-middle
aged.

Hazel Nunn, a spokeswoman for Cancer
Research UK said, “Three-quarters of cases of oral cancer are caused by either
smoking or drinking alcohol…Alcohol consumption has doubled since the 1950s and
the trend we are now seeing is likely to be linked to Britain's continually
rising drinking levels." Nunn also lists a reduction in the consumption of
fruits and vegetables and HPV viruses, as other possible causes for the
increasing cancer rates.

Annually, roughly 5000 people in the
UK
are diagnosed with oral cancers and 1800 are killed.

Experts, such as president of the Royal College
of Physicians, Ian Gilmore, have called for warning labels on alcohol, similar
to those found on packages of cigarettes, said Gilmore, "These figures
demonstrate once again that people are being struck down at ever younger ages
with alcohol-related illnesses. There is an urgent need to rethink how we
communicate the risks of misuse.”

Signs of oral cancers include
pain in the ear or mouth and ulcers, sores or white or red rashes in the mouth.
Visiting the dentist regularly is a good way to ensure an early diagnosis and
effective treatment, if necessary.

Here are 2 facts about alcoholism: It tends to get worse over time (it is progressive) and most people experience a fairly similar progression of symptoms and consequences. Here is a timeline which charts the progressive experiences of alcoholism through the early, middle and late stages. If you have a drinking problem, find out where you fall on the timeline and consider what’s coming in the future. Read Article